JAMMU: Two days ahead of beginning of the Budget Session 2018-19 here in the winter capital, the BJP leadership including the party's National General Secretary, Ram Lal and MoS in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, today met here to plan its strategy to counter the opposition and to discuss the preparedness of the party for the upcoming panchayat polls.Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh also chaired the Coordination Committee meeting of the coalition partners-PDP and BJP-to discuss several issues pertaining to the functioning of the state government besides holding discussion on agendas and achievements of the PDP-BJP dispensation in the state.At the crucial strategy meeting, party's senior leaders, legislatures and district presidents discussed in detail how to reply to the major issues to be raised by opposition in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.BJP National General Secretary, Ram Lal and Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh also participated in the meeting which was attended by party's state president, Sat Sharma, Speaker, Kavinder Gupta and Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh. "We have convened this meeting to discuss wide range of issues including the budget session and the panchayat polls scheduled to start onJanuary 2 and February 15 next year, respectively," the state BJP president told reporters. Sharma said though there is no issue left with the opposition to rake up during the budget session, the BJP is discussing its response at the meeting. "The way development is going on in the state over the past three years, the opposition is left with no issues. It is merely a statement that we will corner the ruling party to raise public issues. They have no issues to rake up," he said. The BJP leader alleged that there were attempts by some political parties to vitiate the atmosphere in Kashmir in the past but today "NIA raids, appointment of interlocutor and success of all out operation against militants has built a conducive atmosphere and paved the way for development and peace." On the panchayat polls, he said, "We have already set up teams across the state to monitor the democratic exercise and we hope honest and dedicated people will be chosen." At the Coalition Coordination Committee meeting, various issues related to the functioning of the state government besides major achievements and agendas of the present dispensation were discussed. The meeting was attended by Minister for Revenue, Parliamentary Affairs, Hajj & Auqaf Abdul Rahman Veeri, Members of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, Shamsher Singh Manhas, besides Sartaj Madni, Dillawar Mir and Trilok Singh Bajwa of the PDP and Narinder Singh of the BJP. Shamsher Singh Manhas, one of the participants of the CC told The News Now, "Since we have lot to count as far as developmental figures are concerned, in the meeting, the leaders of both PDP and BJP were asked to take the assembly proceedings seriously and reply to all the questions as legislators ask the questions for public."

"Every leader was asked to remain in touch with public and ensure that every benefit of the central and state government schemes reach to the last man in the society," he said, adding that leaders were also asked to tell the public about the vicious and false campaign launched by the opposition with their concocted stories about the current government.

"Discussions were also held by the twin party leaders about preparation for the forthcoming panchayat polls in the state," Manhas said.